Transfer Portal DL
Comments
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So you think Memmelaar medically retires, Jackett hits the portal, and maybe Faasolo does too? That would reduce the numbers to 15 and then they would add 1 or 2 players in the portal.
I'd be good with Moe at OG and this guy, who I think will be a true JR this year:
https://247sports.com/player/miles-mcvay-46080187/high-school-229626/
or this guy if Mcvay is too expensive:
https://247sports.com/player/luke-baklenko-46118501/high-school-270025/
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Or this guy could be in the mix from New Mexico State in case Moe falls through. Has experience and size:
https://247sports.com/player/richard-pearce-46102948/high-school-253582/
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I would plan on Parker redshirting this year (the injury was in Game 5 this year so in theory he isn't redshirting this year unless he gets a medical) … that's a full year injury for normal people and then when you add in being a larger human and it really being an injury where it takes an additional year after that to regain explosion and strength … I think you could make a compelling argument for him to redshirt next year and selectively choose to play in 4 games
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I think they like McCree but I'm not sure he's a LT … Tafai and Faasolo both looked very green and quite frankly have a decent amount of work to do in the weight room to be B10 caliber OL contributors
Gaard walked on Senior Day so that tells me that he's likely to be leaving the program.
The problem with the balance of the OL is that by B10 standards they for the most part were JAGs or worse. I'll cut Hatchett a little bit of slack given he had a knee injury late last year (believe during the CFP prep) and most likely was working his way back into condition throughout the year. I'm willing to give him another year to prove that he's part of the solution.
Azzopardi was not good for the balance of the year and increasingly so as the year got deeper and the better teams emerged. He's a G5 OL to me and best case for him as part of a P4 program would be him moving inside and frankly I think there are and will be better options on our roster or in the portal.
A lot obvious depends on what is available but what I think makes the most sense (ideally):
LT: Portal
LG: Portal/Paki Finau
C: Hatchett
RG: Portal/Finau
RT: Let those on the roster compete for this spot (nobody on our roster IMO is a LT)
You're likely going to need to piece together the OL in the portal this year and potentially next year before some of the recruiting class begins to move up the depth chart.
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Gaard either medically retires or just flat out retires with a degree and no material interest in the NFL … not sure what is the reason but you don't walk on senior day if you're expecting to return
If Jackett can't put on the weight then there really isn't much you can do with him. If he's not a candidate to move to the other side of the ball and try being a DL then you let him develop/play at a level more representative of where he is … you can't be that light in the pants and play in the B10.
Azzopardi I think you have a real honest conversation with and say that you didn't see enough this year for him to be a starter at RT next year and if he returns he most likely will be asked to compete at G … I would assume he doesn't like that idea and would therefore enter the portal
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Ok, I thought Parker was able to get a RS this year but assuming he didn't and will RS in 2025, the DTs could look like this:
1-tech: Portal / RS-JR Armond Parker OR Sagapulo (if he comes back)
3-tech: RS-Soph Elinneus Davis / RS-JR Bryce Butler / RS-Frosh Omar Khan
Frankly, the 1-tech is so thin that it would make sense to bring in two big-bodied DTs. Davis and Butler have the size to play 1-tech but would rather bring in top portal DT.
This guy has 2 years remaining and would be perfect but will probably cost at least $1 million so not sure the Huskies have the fire power unless they after fewer portal guys:
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LT - Portal
LG- Moe
C- Hatchett
RG- Paulido
RT- McCree
Assuming Paulido leaves Arizona this would be a major upgrade to size, age and strength up the middle. McCree was light last year, if he can add good weight he’s a nice option at RT. Azzopardi is a nice depth piece if he agrees to come back to compete and Tafai and Faasalo either aren’t good enough or need more time in the oven to bake. I don’t think you can run either of them off just yet.
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I think Paulido might be a medical retiree.
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McCree looked decent to me as a LT. He played pretty well against Michigan's good DL. But if UW can find someone better, it would be great if he moved to RT.
So for the OL, our guesses are Jackett portals, Azzopardi portals, Faasolo portals, and Gaard medically retires? That would reduce the numbers from 18 to 14 and allow the staff to add at least two veteran / better portal OL (1 OT and 1 OG).
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Paki had lots of hype and was compared to Troy when he signed. I imagine he’ll start somewhere and it’d be nice if he could pull a Troy and lock down that LT.👌👌
